Tanya Chapman of Dobbies Garden Centre proudly shows off the first multi-coloured daffodils which have been developed by their team of plant scientists. The colours include, silver, red, blue green and of course the traditional yellow. The flowers go on sale today (1st April 2010). Photo: Gordon Jack/Scotimage.com
Dobbies, launched the world’s first multi-coloured daffodils which will be on sale from today, 1st April 2010, across the company’s 25 stores nationwide and online at dobbies.com.
Tanya Chapman (pictured), Dobbies employee at the company’s flagship store in Edinburgh, was on hand to display the UK-grown flowers which come in every colour under the rainbow – from blue and green to red and silver….a perfect splash of colour amidst the country’s blanket snowfall today.
Dobbies head of horticulture, Neil Fishlock, has been on a reconnaissance mission (code named “Mission Daffodil”) with the gardens and homes retailer for a number of years heading up a team of plant scientists who are today proud to reveal their creation to the British public. Fishlock said: “Daffodils are an all time British favourite – their flash of colour is the first sign that spring has sprung but we wanted to try and introduce a bit of a vibrant variety to the springtime feeling.”
He continued: “Unlike other cut flowers such as roses, carnations or chrysanthemums – daffodils are bulb flowers, making it very difficult to change their trademark flash of yellow. It’s been years in the making but we’ve persevered and finally managed to create our cacophony of colour!”
However, the plant guru is keeping tight-lipped about how their experimenting turned into a bona fide product: “It’s taken a number of years, but we’ve finally found a solution which we’ll be keeping under lock and key so other retailers can’t pinch our experiment. I can confirm that the flowers are being grown at an undisclosed secure site in the UK and they’ll be stealthily transported under the cover of darkness to keep the secret carefully hidden.”
Tanya Chapman added: “Our customer’s couldn’t believe their eyes when we put the first batch on display this morning – they are so bright and unusual that their first reaction is they thought they must be fake!”
Daffodil sales at Dobbies are up 18.4% on last year. The multi-coloured flowers are on sale today from 99p.
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Is this by change a Dobbies efort at an April fool?? I think it might be!
Ralph
lol – that was a good one for 1st April Mark.